Double trouble: finding schools for your twins

1. Firstly, you need to decide whether you’d like your children educated in the same school or not.

If you keep them together… the children may prefer it, and it will be easier for you to do the school run, manage homework and coordinate social arrangements etc.
If you separate them… it could promote their individuality and discourage competition (but it might be a logistical nightmare!)

2. If they’re at the same school, do you want them in the same class?

Maria, a mum of eight-year-old non-identical twins, says separating them has been very beneficial. "They used to be competitive in the classroom, and it was difficult as my daughter was more accomplished than my son”, she says. "But now they can develop at their own pace, and have established their own friends and identities”.
Separation won’t be an option at some of the smaller schools, where there’s only one class per year.

3. Visit as many schools as you can, and discuss your situation.

You’ll find that their approaches to twins, and other multiple births, are as individual as your children are!

4. To assess whether you’re likely to get into a school, use Schoolguruhertfordshire.co.uk.

Please note that our data will only reveal if you're likely to get a place for one child. You should also call the school to discuss your situation and their policy on admitting multiple births.

5. Play it extra-safe when you’re selecting schools to put on your application form.

If you’re unrealistic with your three choices, you risk not getting any of them (and then you’ll be allocated a school that can’t fill its places). Alternatively, your children could be offered different primary schools, against your wishes.

Your position...

• A new primary school rule means that if you apply for your closest community or voluntary controlled school, you'll go to the top of the queue - almost guaranteeing you two places, unless the school is hugely over-subscribed with other multiple births in your intake, or anyone else applying with a higher priority (notably siblings or special needs). This new rule is a huge breakthrough for parents and something that twins' campaigners such as Tracey Hassell (above) have fought hard for. For all other schools, you have no special privileges and should discuss your situation with the individual headteachers.

• With secondary schools, it’s more straightforward. If you get one child in, you should get the other in too. Well, except if one child wins a place through a lottery ballot… and then you won’t. Or if it's a selective school... and then you could have a fight on your hands.

Well, we never said this was going to be easy. Best of luck with your decisions!